Monday, February 19, 2018

China offers to send experts to repair vandalized terracotta warrior statue in US

The Chinese custodians of a 2,200-year-old statue of the world-renowned terracotta warriors on loan to a US museum are calling for the man accused of stealing the statue’s thumb to be punished by the full extent of the law.

The Shaanxi Cultural Heritage Promotion Center has also offered to send two experts to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia to help repair the statue, the Beijing Youth Daily newspaper reported on Monday, which didn’t mention if the offer had been accepted.

Michael Rohana, 24, was arrested and released on a $15,000 bail. A special agent from the FBI's Art Crime Team tracked down Rohana at his home in Bear, Delaware, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Museum staff discovered the statue of the ancient Chinese cavalryman was missing a thumb on January 8. Authorities alleged Rohana snuck into the exhibit room after closing hours, while attending another function at the museum last December. He deliberately snapped off the statue’s thumb and stuffed it in his pocket.

When the FBI questioned him, he admitted stealing the artifact and retrieved if from his room.

EL Kaos UT

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